About this product

Description

Description

Spectacular exchange ceremonies involving hundreds of dancers festooned with elaborate body adornments including highly prized bird of paradise plumes and the revered kina, or pearlshell is something for which the peoples of the New Guinea highlands are rewned. Appreciating the sophistication and sheer beauty of these adornments, Stanley Gordon Moriarty assembled one of the finest collections including exquisitely constructed head dresses, arm- and legbands, ear- and se-rings and necklaces, made of feathers, shell, bark cloth, animal and plant fibres and natural pigments. This book presents highlights from this extraordinary collection, w held by the Gallery, as well as other superb pieces used in rituals, war and daily life such as rare gourd masks, painted shields, carved spears, woven and carved figures, textiles and dance masks.

Author Biography

Natalie Wilson is a curator at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Florence Kamel is a bilum artist and manading director and principal designer of Jaukae Bilum Products. Michael Mel is associate professor and pro vice chancellor at the University of Goroka. Other contributors: Dr. Polly Wiessner, professor of anthropology, University of Utah; Akii Tuma, director of the Take Anda Cultural Centre, PNG; Chris Boylan, director of Oceanic art, Sydney; Dr. Barry Craig, senior curator of world cultures, South Australia Museum, Adelaide; Trevor Shearston, Australian author who has lived in and written books about PNG; Kerry Head, conservator at Art Gallery of New South Wales.